Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 March 2011
The synthesis of self-assembled ZnO nanostructures at room temperature using a microphase separated diblock copolymer as a template is reported. Poly(norbornene) / poly(norbornene-dicarboxylic acid) diblock copolymers were synthesized using Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP). The polymers were dissolved and the solutions were doped with ZnCl2. Films were formed from this solution, and subsequently reacted with NH4OH. This converted the ZnCl2 into ZnO contained within the microphase-separated nanodomains of the block copolymer. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy verified the association of the metal to the second block of the polymer, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy verified the conversion of the salt to ZnO nanoclusters. The development of such ZnO - block copolymer nanocomposites is targeting the functionalization of nanostructures into device technologies.